Tuesday, June 18, 2013

This Country Coverlet is my full-sized version of my "Heirloom Coverlet for Baby" (Seen below)

My "Country Coverlet" needed a special touch for its beginnings. Because the center needed to be rather large, and I could not duplicate the center of the baby blanket to the extent and size needed for this blanket, I thought on what else to put in the center. I thought back to a pineapple sketch I had designed a while back and decided it finally found it's calling.

So, again, why the pineapple? Well, at one time, in the Caribbean, Europe, and North America, the pineapple came
to be associated with the return of ships from extended voyages. Consequently, it became an emblem
of welcome and warmth and hospitality that made its way into contemporary art and has stayed there.

When I thought of this blanket completed, I easily imagined one of its uses as a warm, welcoming center piece to be displayed upon guest beds in people's homes as well as at Bed and Breakfast's.

This afghan is only partially complete right now. Presently it sits atop a queen sized bed, and when completed, the cabled edges will reach the edges of the bed, followed by 6-8" of draping shells that will fall along three sides of the bed.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Originally from an article from Crochet Me, I decided I really had to try this new stitch I had never seen before. And as always, I just had to share it on my Facebook page.

Well, the link would not work once I put it on my Facebook, but I really needed to save the information for a clear reminder about it, as well as a later time when I had time to sit and work it and think about it and all its wonderful possibilities. So, here it is. The info from the article, all the way down to the last bit of advertisement info for purchasing the magazine, Interweave Crochet, where it was first introduced.

I am always on the lookout for a quick and easy stitch. In last winter's issue of Interweave Crochet
I was reintroduced to the linked crochet stitch. This is easily one of
my favorite stitches. Fast and simple, the linked crochet stitch
combines the speed and height of taller stitches, such as the double or
triple crochet, with the solid fabric generally associated with single
crochet.

With each issue of Interweave Crochet,
I look forward to the in-depth how-to technique articles, the
innovative crochet patterns, the quick and easy accessories, and so much
more. Sometimes the stitches or techniques are brand new to me, and
sometimes they are a pleasant reminder of what can be accomplished with
crochet.

Here is great introduction to linked crochet:

Work the
beginning chain as normal. Work the first row of stitches by inserting
your hook in the second chain from the hook, yarn over and pull up a
loop. The loop you have just pulled up takes the place of the yarnover
in a regular double crochet but does not create the "space" normally
associated with a yarnover.

Insert your hook
in the next foundation chain, yarn over and pull up a loop. You will
now have three loops on your hook, just as you would for a normal
double crochet.

To finish the
stitch, simply work as you would a normal double crochet, yarn over and
draw through two loops twice. Notice the horizontal bar created on the
post of the stitch.

To work
subsequent linked double crochets, insert your hook from top to bottom
behind the horizontal bar on the post of the stitch you just worked.
This horizontal bar runs parallel to the front loop at the top of the
stitch. Yarn over and pull up a loop through the bar. Insert your hook
in the next chain; yarn over and pull up a loop. Work these loops off
as before. Repeat this stitch to the end of the row.

For
successive rows, chain two to equal the height of the double crochet
row, insert your hook in the second chain and pull up a loop. Insert
your hook in the next stitch as usual, and work the loops off of the
hook as before. Work the remainder of the row as above.

See,
it's easy! Notice how the fabric is solid, without the tiny gaps
between stitches, making it perfect for quick projects. As your piece
gets bigger, you will really begin to notice the gorgeous drape as
well.

You can experiment with inserting a row of lacier stitches between the linked stitches rows.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Cross Bookmark

This pattern was re-created by me for my friend, Galye. One day at our crochet group at our church, Gayle brought in a lovely cross bookmark she had found in her Grandmothers Bible, wanting to know if I knew where I could find the pattern. I searched high and low on the internet for such a pattern and could not find one for free-or otherwise-anywhere. So, I re-created the pattern. We were looking to make these bookmarks for a seminar we will be holding at our church in the spring, and because I could not even find an image of the pattern anywhere for sale, I went ahead, made the pattern, and am posting it here for free for those of you who would make these bookmarks for gifts or for yourself, but not for sale. I am unsure of the origin of the pattern, although I know it is a very old, traditional item to be crocheted, and the pattern most likely is not bound by any copyright.

Special Stitches Shell:(3 dc, ch2, 3 dc) in space indicatedPicot: (sc, ch2, sl st in 1st ch, sc) in stitch indicatedSpecial Pattern Works:Ending Row: turn, ch 6, sc in ch-2 of shell, ch 5, join to 3rd ch og beginning turn ch 3 of previous row.Outer Corner Boarder: In the ch 6 sp work: 2 sc, picot IN the 3rd st of the ch 6-sp, then 3 more sc in the same ch-6 sp, picot in the sc. Then, in the ch-5 sp work: 3 sc, picot in the 3rd ch of the ch-5 sp, then 2 more sc in the ch-5 sp.

LETS BEGIN!

My second trial cross as I wrote out the pattern. There are errors in it, such as it is missing one picot stitch on the lower right portion of the cross-duh me! And half of the picots are actually ch-2's until I remembered they were supposed to be picot stitches-double duh! But, this is a more accurate photo than the above one, to get an idea of what you are making. Lord willing, tomorrow there will be a perfectly formed, lovely picture in the place of these two somewhat amature-ish, less than perfect ones here now.

***Note-I used size 3 crochet cotton thread and a size 0 hook to produce the above two bookmarks. They are a bit too large. therefore I recommend using a thinner thread and smaller hook. Once I have the opportunity to use smaller thread and hook, I will update with more pertinent information. But, if you crochet & have thread, have fun!!!

Right Arm of Cross1. RS facing, join in to the last dc in row 2 of the bottom portion of the cross, ch1, shell in space between beginning rows 1 & 1 of top & bottom portions, sl st in last dc of row 2 of top portion of cross.2. Turn, ch3, shell in ch-2 sp, dc in 1st dc of row 13. Turn, ch3, shell in ch-2 sp, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch-34. Work "Ending Row". Finish off.Left Arm of Cross1. RS facing, join into the last dc of row 2 of top portion of the cross, ch 1,shell into the sp created between rows 1&1 of top and bottom portions, ch 1, sl st in last dc of row 2 of bottom portion.2. Turn, ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp, dc in joining st of row 13. Turn, ch 3, shell in ch-2 sp, dc in 3rd ch of turning ch-3 of row 3.4 Work "Ending Row". DO NOT finish off.

BorderCh 1.*In next st that "Connects" the outer perimeter stitch to the shell work "Picot", 2 sc in ch-3 sp, picot in "connecting" stitch, 2 sc in ch-3 sp, sc in corner st, [2sc in ch-3 sp, picot in "connecting" stitch] 2x, work "Outer Corner Boarder" Repeat from * 1x as written.Repeat from * again, 2 more times following the same principal of the pattern, making the needed adjustments in the patterned stitch count in order to cover the entire perimeter of the lower arm of the cross.End with the final working of the "Corner Boarder", join w/ sl st, finish off. Weave in any ends not crocheted over as you worked your piece.Cut a separate piece of thread 18" long, knot two loose ends together & attach to top of cross in center of picot stitch. Add tassel or beads or charm if desired to the end.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

This sweet, tangy marinade I made special for a top round roast I cut up for grilling a few weeks ago. I normally don't do steaks, let alone grilling them, but since making this recipe the first time, I have made it a few more times and decided I need to try to save it before I forget it. That's the hard part. When you're just throwing everything together, its much easier than measuring it all out. Therefore, as I go along, this recipe will probably have adjustments made, but at least I have the basic here for now. I hope you enjoy it. We sure do!!

Maahvelous Steak Marinade

2-3 lbs steak or sliced roast of your choice

1 large onion

1 1/2 c tomato ketchup1 c Soy sauce

1/4 c balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp roasted sesame oil

1/2 Tbsp white vinegar

1/2 c honey

3 cloves pressed and chopped fresh garlic

1/2 c sugar

Chop onion. In large bowl or container, layer steaks and onions. Set aside.

In small sauce pan, combine rest of ingredients and cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour over steaks, carefully lifting steaks with fork to run marinade throughout between the pieces and under the bottom ones placed in bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or for desired length of time. Grill as usual. Enjoy!!!!!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Yup, I'm at it again: It is late, everyone is asleep, and I am up on this thing I call my mock newborn-my newest sleep deprivation instrument in my life. Can you relate?

I really don't know why I am up doing this, other than I really really really want to share this striking pattern a dear woman I met on Facebook has posted in her blog.

Up till 4 am last night with my youngest daughter throwing up for five hours strait, I woke up late this morning, groggy, tired, and disoriented for most of the day. Then I ended up missing church and spending the entire night de-cluttering and re-organizing my homeschool/craft room-something which I had begun the day before and planned on doing earlier in the day, but couldn't due to brain malfunction. I needed to finish it up before it drove me absolutely crazy.

So, It's now 2 am. Why am I up still???

One of my lovely sons, (no really, he is-they all are) having been out all day with his brother working on our "new" work/plow truck, came home from working, showered, went to church, hung out there for two hours working on a sermon with the youth pastor, went out for D&D coffee, came home, took his girlfriend home a while later, came home again, and then decided he needed to do a load of wash so he would have clean clothes for the morning when he goes out painting which he just found out about he was doing.Really???

(Calgon, take me away!!)

Seeing he had been up for 21 hours already, and had to get up early tomorrow morning, I sent him to bed and told him I would wait out the dryer to finish before I went to sleep.

Never trust those dryers-they just can't be trusted, you know.

Well, the dryer has finished, and just as it does, I find the pattern for this beautiful thing I've been eyeballing for a while.

So, what do I do?Certainly NOT go to sleep.

No, I get on my FB page, post this pattern, and then continue to go to my blog here, and do the same.

And of course, being half delusional as I am right now, what do I do? Just what I'm doing-chatting nonesense in the midst of this blog making you wonder why you are even reading this in the first place. (I promise you, I wont do this again -writters block certainly has no hold on me tonight!)

So, with no further a-do (Yay!!!!!) and so I can get some sleep finally, (double yay!!!) here it is:

About Me

I am a Mom with five kids. I am also a crochet fanatic, and that is mostly what will be posted on here.(Maybe)
As a homeschooling mom, with five kids, addicted to crocheting, I always have something to do to keep me busy, and I like it that way-for the most part. I also love silence and stillness, which tends to pose a problem sometimes, as I don't seem to get to enjoy much of that.(Can you imagine why???) My hobbies are crocheting, writing, playing the flute, and singing. My husband, my children, my church, and my gifts and talents are Gods blessings that I hold dear in my life-treasures which fill my life to overflowing. Along with my crocheting, here I will share portions of my life, my thoughts, my hopes, and anything in between. Life is good, and my God is great.